Young Bomber Kyle Langford says his hard work continues to pay off ahead of his fifth season at the club.
Langford repaid the faith from the club this year with an impressive breakthrough season in the number four jumper, which was passed on by inspirational former captain Jobe Watson, as he thrived in his new role on the ball.
After spending the majority of his first three seasons at half-forward, Langford embraced the challenge to reshape his game and become a dynamic inside midfielder in 2018.
It was change that required plenty of effort and patience and Langford admitted it was difficult watching the senior team from the sidelines during the transformation.
“I was talking with Woosha and the other coaches about it. It wasn’t so much about the outcome, it was about the process,” Langford said on Wednesday.
“They wanted me to change from a half-forward to an inside mid and that meant spending time in the VFL perfecting my craft, which I did.
“Obviously (there were) frustrating times, I want to play in the AFL – that’s what I’m here for.”
Langford’s dedication was justly rewarded; he played in the side’s final 14 games of the year as the Bombers closed the year off in style.
“It’s been a work in progress. It’s been 18 months of hard work through the VFL and in and out of the AFL on the fringe” he said.
“I’ve really felt like I’ve made really good inroads into my own career.”
The 22-year-old proved extremely valuable for the team, using his 190-centimetre stature to great effect on the ball in the back half of the season, adding grunt and size to the on-ball brigade and filling what had long been seen as a void for the side.
Langford said he has once again added strength in the off-season and credits his condition to a high-altitude training camp in the US organised by senior teammate David Zaharakis, who has taken up numerous mentoring roles at the club.
“I’ve got a lot stronger. I think that’s through training with Zacka over the off-season going to Boulder – doing those little things (that) give you a big increase.
“(The training) was definitely challenging, it was a new experience for myself.
“Having a group of guys from the club made it a lot easier, but the hiking, the running, the altitude – even sleeping in it and doing weights in it – was all a big challenge and I’ll be doing it next year for sure.”
With the prospect of further time in the middle in 2019, Langford is determined to knuckle down and get the as much benefit as possible out of this pre-season.
“My focus throughout the pre-season is just to keep getting better, make the team better and it’s all about the process, not about the outcome.”
